After more than 70 years of independence, there are so many professions which do not recruit women commonly. One such profession is of a bus conductor. However, now women are taking over this profession as well. Recently, in Haryana, a differently-abled woman and a mother of two daughters became the first women bus conductor, in the state.
According to the NDTV, the ongoing strike of the state roadways employees forced the Haryana government to launch a recruitment drive for drivers and conductors. This led to the recruitment of 32-year-old Sharmilla.
Leg injury never came in her way
Sharmilla, a native of Rewari district in Haryana, said her husband and she were unemployed for a very long time. And it was getting challenging to raise two daughters. She says even though she was looking for a job for quite a long time, she was not getting anything in hand.
“My husband and I were unemployed. We are raising two daughters. I had been looking for a job for the last 8 to 10 years, and when I learnt about this vacancy, I applied against it and got the job,” she said.
On Wednesday, Sharmilla resumed her job, dressed in a pair of jeans and shirt she took hold of her post from the Rewari bus depot.
“I am very happy now. I am getting good support and respect from the people. They appreciate what I am doing,” she said.
Sharmilla says she suffered 40 per cent of disability in one of her legs, even though she never let it come in her way. After years of her struggle has now made her the first woman conductor in Haryana.
Excited and proud about her journey, Sharmilla says that in just a few days of her duty she has learnt a lot from her job. She got this job at the time when the state has been undergoing its longest ever strike. After Sharmilla became the first conductor, Nirmala Rani was also recruited as a bus conductor, she has also joined the duty from on Sirsa-Ellenabad route. Earlier this year, 30-year-old Archna had become the first bus driver and also the only woman to drive a government bus from Karnal city in Haryana.
The strike
According to The Indian Express, the Haryana Roadways is undergoing the strike. On Monday the strike completed 14 days. The employees have decided to extend their strike as their fresh talks with the government failed to resume the employee’s demands. Haryana has about 19,000 employees in roadways services. The state roadways department is catering up to 12 lakh passengers daily with a fleet of 4,100 buses.
Also Read: Haryana: Crimes Against Women Increased By 27% Between 2014 and 2018
